Governor Pat McCrory: Don't Put "Your Stupid Hat On"

The Governor's office provided a link to watch the live stream, which we have included in the related link.

The Governor asked citizens and visitors to be extremely careful, as well as the need to be prepared for potential flooding, power outages and surges.

The Governor noted the rip currents will be extremely dangerous.

McCrory said plans are in place to get things back in line as quickly as possible following the storm.

The Governor urged citizens to not put "your stupid hat" on and to stay safe. He always had advice for media personnel who are covering the storm.

There is a mandatory evacuation for Hatteras Island, and a voluntary evacuation for Ocracoke Island.

As of 10 a.m., the storm is about 200 miles south of Wilmington.

The Governor talked about Highway 12 on the Outer Banks and how precarious it is.

Other officials spoke at the press conference. One push was to remind people not to drive through water. As little as six inches of water can cause issues for vehicles.

More ferry runs have been added to get people off of Hatteras and Ocracoke.

Twenty-five additional pieces of heavy equipment are in place to help clear Highway 12 once the storm passes.

Sonar readings will be done following the storm to determine if Bonner Bridge is safe. The bridge was recently scanned and was declared safe, but it will be checked as soon as a boat can get in the water following the storm before it is reopened.

Swift boat rescue teams are stationed in parts of Eastern Carolina, including Kinston. The Governor talked about river issues that can come if a storm stalls. The National Guard has high-clearance trucks available to assist in rescues as needed.

We encourage commenting on our stories to give you a chance to express your opinion. We rely upon the online community to report abuse. Repeat violators may be banned from posting comments.
CLICK HERE for the witn.com guidelines for posting comments.

Online Public Information File

Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or fccinfo@fcc.gov.